Our Kids. Our Schools. Our Future.
We—Kerry Sautner, Anna Shurak, Juanita Kerber, and Jennifer Rivera—are running as the Democratic Party-endorsed slate for the Lower Merion School Board.
With Kerry and Anna as experienced incumbents and Juanita and Jennifer bringing fresh perspectives, we are committed to strong, inclusive, and student-focused leadership.
Over the past three years, we have fought to strengthen public education, uphold equity, support educators, and ensure transparency in decision-making. Now, political groups are trying to roll back our progress. We need your support to keep our schools thriving and our board focused on students, not politics.
Anna Shurak — Lower Merion School Board Director
Anna Shurak brings over 20 years of experience in education, serving as a teacher, principal, Chief Schools Officer, and nonprofit leader. As a current Lower Merion School Board Director, she has helped implement full-day kindergarten, adjust school start times, preserve Oakwell, and collaborate with commissioners for lights on Arnold Field — all in response to long-standing community priorities.
Juanita Kerber
As a parent and member of this community, Juanita was inspired to run because she believes at this time in our history, ALL voices must be valued, respected and heard. She will step up to help preserve the quality of our public education, promote initiatives that enrich the academic experience for all children within our school district, and address the concerns of our community in a healthy and productive way.
Dr. Kerry Sautner — Lower Merion School Board President
Dr. Sautner serves as president of the Lower Merion School District Board of School Directors, where she is committed to fostering excellence in education, inclusion, and student success. In this role, she works closely with fellow board members, district leadership, and the community to ensure that all students have access to high-quality learning opportunities in a supportive and safe environment.
Jennifer Rivera
Jennifer is committed to strengthening the foundation of our schools by advocating for our teachers, equipping them with the resources they need to excel in the classroom. She will champion collaboration with families to build trust and foster transparency. Jennifer’s 20+ years of experience working with leaders and boards have equipped her to navigate policies, resolve challenges, and ensure that every decision reflects our shared commitment to stability, consistency, and excellence in education.
We are running for reelection to the Lower Merion School Board because our district needs steady, experienced, and collaborative leadership that prioritizes students, equity, and community-driven decision-making.
Our Record of Leadership & Accomplishments
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Advocated for policies that expand access, ensure fairness, and uphold the highest standards for all students.
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Championed the LMSD Equity Policy to protect all students from discrimination, despite efforts to dismantle it.
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Approved the teacher’s contract, avoiding a potential strike, and fought to maintain critical programs that support student well-being.
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Implemented a new incident reporting system and expanded professional development to address antisemitism and other forms of hate.
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Helped secure Full-Day Kindergarten, adjusted school start times, preserved Oakwell, and resolved the Arnold Field lighting issue—all while managing four superintendent transitions.
Our Path Forward: A Vision for LMSD
Maintain Stability & Experience
With only one board member having more than two years of experience, our leadership is essential to navigating complex challenges.
Defend Public Education
We must push back against politically motivated attacks and stand firm in our commitment to inclusive, high-quality education.
Foster Collaboration & Trust
We will continue to engage openly with parents, students, and educators to ensure that decisions reflect our shared values.
Why This Election Matters
Across the country, public education is under attack. Political groups and misinformation campaigns are working to divide our community, weaken DEI initiatives, and undermine the democratic values that define our district. These tactics are not just disruptive—they are dangerous.
If we lose experienced leadership on the board, we risk:
❌ Rolling back equity policies that protect students from discrimination
❌ Destabilizing the board at a critical time, jeopardizing key initiatives
❌ Allowing external political agendas to influence local education decisions
This election is about who we want to be as a community.
We can reject division, uphold our values, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
We ask for your vote and support so we can continue this work together. Let’s keep Lower Merion’s schools strong, inclusive, and focused on the future.